Anko Left in the Dark

Watching Obito Uchiha look as if he were constipated, Kakashi Hatake grew a little concerned and casually asked, "Need some toilet paper?"

"If you do, Rin and I can spare you some."

Obito Uchiha: "..."

"What are you two talking about?" Rin Nohara called back from ahead. "Hurry up, or Mrs. Kawashima will start worrying."

The two dropped the subject and quickened their pace to catch up with Rin Nohara.

"Obito, what were you and Kakashi talking about just now?" Rin Nohara asked curiously when they caught up.

Obito Uchiha was at a loss for words.

There was no way he could tell the truth—he wanted to get back at Nebula Kotetsu, and that was definitely not going to happen—so he made something up on the spot.

"Nothing much. I was telling Kakashi about something funny that happened recently."

"Something funny?" Rin Nohara asked with interest. "What happened? Tell me."

Obito Uchiha hurriedly tried to think of anything amusing that had happened in Konoha recently. Then he remembered something!

"Rin, have you heard? There's a strange man in Konoha lately."

"A strange man?"

"Yeah, a strange man!"

"Why do you say there's one more? Was there already one?"

"You've got that right." Obito Uchiha nodded. "I heard that every day before dawn, a strange man in green wanders around the outskirts of Konoha."

"This has been going on for years."

Kakashi Hatake's footsteps suddenly grew lighter.

"Some people say he's a weirdo from the Ninja Academy who works out outside the village every morning."

As he spoke, he looked at Rin Nohara. "Rin, have you heard of this weirdo?"

Rin Nohara shook her head.

Obito Uchiha continued, "I don't think that's who it is, either."

"But lately, it seems like there isn't just one strange man. There are two!"

"One of them even lets out creepy howls now and then."

"Someone's already reported it to the guard force."

Rin Nohara asked in surprise, "Really?"

"You didn't just make that story up, did you?"

Obito Uchiha grew flustered. "Of course not!"

"Rin, why would I lie to you? It really happened!"

"I heard the adults in my clan talking about it. Apparently, the guard force really did receive a report and is getting ready to investigate."

The two chattered away, unaware that Kakashi Hatake's gaze had grown distant.

As he listened to Obito Uchiha's animated tale, a familiar figure in green appeared in his mind.

"Kakashi! I challenge you!"

"Thanks for your support!"

The boy's brilliant white teeth seemed to flash before his eyes. He was certain the strange man Obito Uchiha was talking about could only be him!

Might Guy!

But who was the other strange man?

Another weirdo obsessed with youth? Or maybe one of his clones?

Memories kept surfacing. Thinking of the boy who was always chasing him down for a challenge, Kakashi Hatake sighed inwardly.

"It feels like it's been ages since we last met."

"Once things settle down, I should go see him..."

The afternoon sun shone warmly.

On Konoha's streets, bathed in golden light, Mitaraishi Anko held several skewers of dango, popping them into her mouth one by one.

But even her favorite treat didn't taste as good as usual.

The reason she was unhappy was her best friend, Uzuki Yugao.

Mitaraishi Anko had noticed that her best friend had been acting strangely lately.

She'd taken several days off from school in a row, claiming first that her grandmother was sick, then that her mother had a fever, and then that she had her period. The teacher didn't say anything, since she was a top student, but Anko found it strange.

On the days she did show up, she would hurry off right after school as if she had somewhere urgent to be.

She didn't even have time to hang out with Anko anymore.

"Yugao, want to get dango after school?"

"Huh? Anko, I'm sorry, but I have something to do tonight."

"Yugao, let's go catch butterflies tomorrow."

"Sorry, Anko. Dad's going to teach me swordsmanship tomorrow."

"Yugao, want to go see Nebula tomorrow?"

"Ah!... Well, Anko, why don't you go by yourself? I twisted my ankle during training last night, so I don't feel like going out."

And so, for quite some time now, she hadn't been able to spend time with her best friend.

To make matters worse, Nebula Kotetsu had also been nowhere to be seen lately.

Looking at the last dango on the skewer, Mitaraishi Anko imagined it was Nebula Kotetsu and swallowed it in one bite.

"Hmph! I can't find any of them anywhere. This is so annoying!"

Meanwhile, at the Valley of the End.

The spring bubbled and flowed, its spray easing the heat in the air.

By the riverbank,

a young man and woman danced gracefully, swords twirling in their hands.

The scene was like a painting.

The two moved slowly, sometimes crossing swords and sweeping their arms out together, as if they were one.

Anyone watching would hardly think they were practicing swordsmanship. They'd think the young couple were sweethearts showing off their affection.

"Ahem!"

"Yugao, how about... we take a break?" Nebula Kotetsu suggested in the brief pause after their swords parted.

"Sure~" Uzuki Yugao replied with a smile, her blade flashing as she sheathed it.

Nebula Kotetsu let out a relieved breath and found a smooth patch of shade beneath a tree. Uzuki Yugao naturally followed and sat down snugly beside him.

Nebula Kotetsu sighed helplessly.

"Yugao."

"Hmm?"

"It's pretty hot. You don't have to sit so close."

"No, I'm not hot."

"I'm sweating."

"You're not."

"I really am. I'm covered in sweat and stink. Why don't we sit a little farther apart?"

"Don't be silly. You don't stink at all. I think you smell nice."

"..."

Nebula Kotetsu shook his head with a wry smile.

He'd gotten to know Uzuki Yugao better over the past few days.

Her direct way of expressing herself and her bold, almost predatory gaze had drained a great deal of his time and energy.

"Yugao, what made you want to come here today?"

Uzuki Yugao looked up at him. "What's wrong with this place?"

"There are mountains and water, and a statue of the First."

Nebula Kotetsu shook his head. "It's not that there's anything wrong with it.

"It's just that we've been changing locations every few days.

"The back hill, the Konoha training grounds, your house... and now here."

"Isn't it a hassle to keep changing places? I think my courtyard is nice."

Uzuki Yugao's eyes flickered. "Oh, what do you know?"

"If we stay in one place, Anko might discover us."

Nebula Kotetsu said, "So what if she does?"

"No!"

Uzuki Yugao looked serious. "Anyway, let's not tell Anko about us yet."

"All right. Have it your way."

Nebula Kotetsu didn't want to argue over something so trivial. He leaned back against the tree and enjoyed the breeze beneath the midday shade.

The scent of grass mingled with the river air, lifting his spirits.

If only the Shinobi World could stay peaceful like this forever.

No fighting, no killing.

Training, eating, planting flowers...

As he drifted off into his daydream, Uzuki Yugao's voice sounded beside him.

"Nebula, your hands are so much bigger than mine~"